. [healthier] chocolate glazed donuts .

Severaldifferentsites claim that today is National Doughnut Day, but if memory serves me correctly, didn’t we already celebrate that all the way back in June? And while we’re on the topic of donuts and my confusion, is it spelled donut or doughnut? Is it an American vs. Canadian thing? A personal preference thing? Both?

Either way, I suppose it doesn’t really matter since today’s recipe is neither a donut nor a doughnut, making the issue of spelling and holidays a moot point. See, donuts (I’m committing to this spelling)are fried whereas my little gems are baked… but for simplicity’s sake, I’m calling them donuts anyways. I know it’s slightly false advertising, but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck… it’s probably a duck. And if it looks like a donut and tastes like a donut… it’s probably a donut.

I was a huge fan of donuts back in the day — we’re talking 2 or 3 trips to Timmy’s every week. And my favourite kind? Chocolate glazed. Fluffy chocolate dough surrounded by a sweet crackly glaze? Dreamy.

Not so dreamy? The nutritional stats. I’m all for occasional indulgences, but I’m pretty sure my body wouldn’t appreciate that much sugar and saturated fat on a regular basis. I have no idea how I used to pull it off back in the day, but I must be getting old or something because I definitely notice a big difference in how I feel when my diet tips towards the more indulgent side for any extended period of time. But thanks to healthier options, I can have my cake donut and eat it too.

First, these guys are baked instead of fried, but you’d be hard-pressed to tell if you didn’t know beforehand. They’re moist, fluffy, and rich without being greasy or heavy… they do look like little chubsters though…

Second, they contain minimal amounts of sugar and oil, and can be made even healthier by replacing the powdered sugar in the glaze with a vanilla protein powder (it works, I promise).

For the donuts: In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir until well combined and set aside. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, yogurt, coconut oil, melted chocolate, and vanilla. Mix well before adding to flour mixture and stir gently until just combined.

Use a piping bag or ziplock bag with one corner cut off to pipe the batter into your prepared pan, filling each one about ⅔ full. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until donuts spring back when touched. Allow to cool before applying the glaze.

For the glaze: Combine sugar, milk, and vanilla in a medium sized mixing bowl, stirring until smooth. Feel free to add more sugar (to thicken) or milk (to thin) to achieve desired consistency.

Place a wire rack over a sheet of parchment paper or baking sheet. Dip each donut into the glaze, using a fork to turn it over so that both sides are well coated. Remove from bowl and place on wire rack to set. Repeat until all donuts are coated.

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Fluffy chocolate dough. That crackly glazed shell… Everything I love about chocolate glazed donuts without any of the less-desirable aspects. And if you don’t have a donut pan in your kitchen arsenal? No problem — you can make donut holes! Simply roll the dough into little balls and bake them on a cookie sheet.

See what I did, just there? I took away all your excuses. And if you didn’t pick up on it, I’ve been secretly trying to take away your willpower with all these pictures…

Dit it work? 😉

Are you a fan of donuts? What’s your favourite kind?
What’s your favourite more indulgent dessert?

holy deliciousness batman! you had me from the first photo (actually the word donut- thats how i spell it, purely because its faster than doughnut) seriously these look amazing! and they’re healthy?! be still my heart. i think you should open a donut bakery (actually a regular bakery bc you make other goodies too) everything you make looks and tastes awesome- monetize!

So, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet and now I’m literally dying for one of these donuts and completely kicking myself that I don’t have a donut pan (searching Amazon for one right now!). Not to mention the fact that chocolate glazed donuts just so happen to be a favorite of mine. They look amazing Amanda!

Drooling! Seriously girl, I think you should open up a cafe and offer all your goodies, you’re getting more and more genius!!
I am not a donut fan at all. Maybe it’s because they weren’t available in Switzerland until only a few years ago, but even when I was in the US they never spoke to me. Still, i am intrigued to try your baked version and considering we have guests this Friday…..maybe they would love these as dessert?!

What a beautiful baked donut variation (if you ask me spelling them doughnut just looks WRONG!). I’ve actually never eaten one with chocolate in the dough, only as glace, but I would totally give yours a try. Bookmarked for one of the next cold-weather-chee.-me-up-baking-sessions.

I’m not a doughnut (British spelling all the way) fan at all because I find them way too sweet….to the point that I can feel a cavity coming on with each bite ;)! Like you, it’s just a matter of changing tastes as back in the day, I used to eat a glazed doughnut daily thanks to them being sold at school. These bad boys, however, are an exception- they look all kinds of perfect. Glazed doughnuts without a sugar hangover? SIGN ME UP!! If only the day would come where we could eat through our screen ;)!

As for my favorite more indulgent dessert? That would be cheesecake without a doubt…and no skimping on the biscuit layer ;)!

Oh Amanda. There you go again reminding me of one of my favourite Canadian classic treats: the Tim Hortons chocolate glazed D. At least I can try to re-create them with this recipe. Now I just need a donut pan! Also, great photos!

YUMMY. Those look seriously amazing! Super moist and sweet. I am inspired to stop frying doughnuts now and start altering the recipes I use to bake them. Much better. I am intrigued greek yogurt is part of the ingredients too.

Shockingly, I used to not like donuts! I loved them as a kid becauseh dad would always run out and get the day-old sprinkled ones for us on Sundays before church but after college they kind of fell off of my radar. Thank goodness for the move to Chicago and my introduction to Dunkin’ – it has saved my donut-lovin’ soul 😉 I can’t have them all of the time because they make my tummy feel wonky but these healthy ones I could probably pull off without any troubles!

Oh man I really like donuts even though I never really think of them. I say I like pancakes the best but donuts are definitely up there. I’m too lazy to bake so I usually would just get them if I’m in a dining hall or something but they look so good! And since they’re healthier, it means I can eat triple the amount 😉

Oh my! When I started reading the post, I was honestly thinking about how quickly I could get to the store to buy a donut pan. But then when I read that you can turn these into donut holes, I got really excited! That’s exactly what I’ll be doing sometime very soon! You, my friend, are a genius!

I don’t go out of my way to buy donuts, but if someone brings them in to work I’m all over it! I love chocolate donuts the best, so these look awesome! I had a pumpkin donut from Dunkin’ that was also really good.

I’ve actually never been crazy about donuts BUT I do have a random craving once a year and I would always get a chocolate glazed and a sour cream glazed timbit. I’ve never made donuts but these look so simple

I LOVE donuts, and I don’t really discriminate… Love them all. 😉 Of course I have my favorites – Boston cream and maple long johns are two on the top of my list. Krispy Kremes are in a category all by themselves – they are my all time favorite!

These look delicious!!! And not even that complicated but I do not have the proper baking tool *sigh*. So funny you mentioned Timmys chocolate glazed donuts. I was a HUGE timbit girl!! My fave? Chocolate obvs. I had one recently and it just didn’t taste the same.

Wow…. you’ve done it again!! You don’t even know what a huge fan of donuts I am. The cakey blueberry ones are my favorite, but I’m down with chocolate any day. I also never would have thought to use the protein powder for powdered sugar… can’t wait to try this!!

To me, donuts are spelled donut…I always liked a good chocolate crème filled or just like you, the chocolate donut with the glaze. Dunkin calls it a chocolate kruller if u get it in the stick shape…Anyway, I have been considering a donut pan to make donuts and you just convinced me with this recipe. I am a sweet tooth, as we know, and I can’t resist hunks of chocolate fudge cake or a classic chocolate chip cookie. I may start to love donuts though if I can perfect them.

I put off getting a donut pan for a long time too, but I’m glad I finally buckled down and got one because it’s a fun thing to have. Something about eating baked goods in a donut shape just make them that much more appealing.

I’m throwing a temper tantrum inside of my head right now because I can’t have one of these immediately. I love every single thing about this recipe and want one in my face RIGHT NOW! Ahem.

I always spell it donut but I think it could either way. Another word that stumps me- portobello or portabella? I think one is feminine and one is masculine but when it’s in English, which one do you use? IDK.

I hate to say I’m NOT a donut fan. I KNOW! I apologize. I die for bakery cookies, muffins, and cupcakes! HOWEVER, this is my dad’s favorite kind of donut and since it’s relatively easy (and healthy!), I think I might have to give it a shot! I’ve been wanting to buy a donut pan for A LONG time now, but never got one since I’m not a fan… So, maybe this will help give me a push, eh? (my Canadian lingo is growing 😉 )

I’ve never been a HUGE donut person (the fried kind anyway) but there’s a place called ‘Fonuts’ in LA that serves all baked and mostly vegan/gf donuts that are to die for. These actually look really similar to them! Yeeee! Thanks for sharing another amazing recipe, lady. (:

I’m not a big donut fan but these look really good! Personally I would usually choose a bagel over a donut though. My coworkers would love these, thy are always fighting over the donuts clients bring in.

Okay, you’ve done it again – although I’ve never been a doughnut fan, I might be a convert now. Seriously, how do you achieve this beauty? It’s not just the recipe experimentation (and eventual success), but also those gorgeous photos you take! My boyfriend is a doughnut fan, and I think these may have to make their way into my Sunday baking rotation… perfect amount at only 6, too!

Thanks so much for sharing these, Amanda. I could see the temptation to hide this recipe away in your secret weapon pile, but I love that you’re spreading the joy (and sweetness) with all your readers.

Regarding spelling, I’m kind of a grammar FREAK, so I always spell it “doughnut” (the correct spelling), but I’m pretty sure these are delicious no matter how you spell it

So I have to admit that sour cream glazed donuts are my absolutely fav, but chocolate glazed were up there as well…it’s all about the glaze, clearly. I don’t usually go out of my way for donuts, but once in a while they’re perfect. I think I usually go for Timbits/donut holes, just because I like being able to grab like 4 different kinds and still have it be an appropriate serving size 😉

mmmmmmmm so lovin these girl!! I actually made some pumpkin donuts last week, which were the bomb.com. I think a mix of chocolate and pumpkin in donut form is going to be showing up soon on my blog. You’ve got my wheels turning!! I will most DEFINITELY be making these for my family for breakfast Thanksgiving break!

I’m pretty sure that if you scrolled through all of my past blog posts I’ve called them both donuts AND doughnuts. This morning I actually went to look up what the difference was (now for the life of me I can’t remember why… because I didn’t see your post until now. I must be psychic 8O).

Basically “donut” is just a nickname or shortened version of “doughnut.” While Dunkin Donuts did increase the use of that version, it was actually thought up about 50 years earlier. Interesting.

Also, I think today is “Doughnut Appreciation Day” and back in June was “National Doughnut Day.” Maybe. There’s also a cream-filled doughnut day but I appreciate the simpler things in life 😉 Like glazed. Or perhaps chocolate glazed?

Yep. It completelyyyy worked. Just as I was reading/drooling over this I was thinking how I wish I had a donut pan. Little donut holes are the solution to that! Your pictures never fail to make me hungy…thank you.

Because you piqued my curiosity (and I’m fascinated by word origins) I turned to the internet. According to Wikipedia:
The first known printed use of donut was in Peck’s Bad Boy and his Pa by George W. Peck, published in 1900, in which a character is quoted as saying, “Pa said he guessed he hadn’t got much appetite, and he would just drink a cup of coffee and eat a donut.”[12] According to John T. Edge (Donuts, an American passion 2006) the alternative spelling “donut” was invented when the New York–based Display Doughnut Machine Corporation abbreviated the word to make it more pronounceable by the foreigners they hoped would buy their automated doughnut making equipment.[13][14] The donut spelling also showed up in a Los Angeles Times article dated August 10, 1929 in which Bailey Millard jokingly complains about the decline of spelling, and that he “can’t swallow the ‘wel-dun donut’ nor the ever so ‘gud bred’. The interchangeability of the two spellings can be found in a series of “National Donut Week” articles in The New York Times that covered the 1939 World’s Fair. In four articles beginning October 9, two mention the donut spelling. Dunkin’ Donuts, which was so-named in 1950, following its 1948 founding under the name Open Kettle (Quincy, Massachusetts), is the oldest surviving company to use the donut variation; other chains, such as the defunct Mayflower Doughnut Corporation (1931), did not use that spelling.[15] According to the Oxford Dictionary while “doughnut” is used internationally, the spelling “donut” is American.[16] The spelling “donut” remained rare until the 1950s, and has since grown significantly in popularity;[17] this growth in use has possibly been influenced by the spread of Dunkin’ Donuts.[18]

OMG! Those look ah-mazing! I used to looove those donuts. Til I sadly cut them out as a “bad” food. I couldn’t seem to control myself with those things for some reason! But your recipe looks awesome! I can’t wait to go out and get that pan! Thank you!!

Mmm these do look dreamy! I’m not a huge fan of chocolate, but you’ve got me sold on these babies.
I spell it “donut,” but I always thought that was some sort of slang way of spelling it. Whatever works. My favorite kind would have to be apple crullers. Oh my goodness, so good. I haven’t had one in ages though, but that’s probably better for my health… 😉 Maybe I should look for a healthy apple cruller recipe. Or just try your chocolate glazed donuts! I have a cake pop maker that I’m sure could crank out some lovely little donut holes!

You definitely nailed the presentation of these gorgeous babies (as always), and I have no doubt they taste just as good as they look. Hopefully this will be a push for me to actually use that doughnut (committing to the other spelling ;-)) I just won and the doughnut pan I just bought to use.

Yup – those pictures absolutely convinced me that I NEED these donuts in my life – these not-really-chubsters would most definitely make my life complete and even though I don’t own a doughnut pan – YOU have made me see that I can just go ahead and make donut balls come Saturday morning!
These pictures are AWESOME Amanda! Terrificly Tantalizing!
I must confess, the first donut I ate was when I turned 18 – and they are not a food I totally adore – except for the blueberry cake donuts that Krispy Kreme puts out – one of those cake donuts NEED 2 cups of coffee to wash em down! Have you ever tried a Kripsy Kreme donut?

My all time fav dessert – the only one I indulge in in all its calorific glory is tiramisu! Just. simply. adore. that. stuff.

If the hat fits, wear it These doughnuts look amazing. I only just had my first doughnut in about 10 years last month – fresh, warm and slightly spiced – delicious. I’ve never had chocolate ones but those look right up my alley!

I love donuts- it’s been an extremely long time since I watched it, but I do love them. Favorite(s)? Krispy Kreme glazed donuts, hot off the line. I think it’s the first and only time I ate something and LITERALLY had a foodgasm in my mouth. I also like sour cream donuts with the layer of icing.

Oh girrrllll those look amazzzzinnngggg!!!! I really love your pictures and I think over the months you’ve improved so so so much!!! Anyway, back to the dough-donut. 😀 I’m not a big lover of donuts but lately ONCE in a great while I crave it, but I agree that my body can’t handle too much indulgence because if I do indulge TOO MUCH my body goes on a strike! 😛

Love donuts- we have organic ones here at farmers markets (NYC) they are still fried but organically fried- I have one twice a week. My favourite indulgent treat – good chocolate cake or tirimisu, I ha e an I real honest indulgent dessert twice a week too – in addition to the donuts (which are cinnamon my fab along with iced chocolate ones). hmm I’m only just thinking that this might be seen as a lot? I’m in college and it doesn’t seem like it to me- but After reading these health blogs where no one eats dessert I am a little freaked out! I have always been seen as the moderate one in my social circle (of truly slim grls too!) but in this world I seem like a slob lol! anyways sorry for the mind spill and your donuts look yum- but I think I would go for the real sugar frosting I am not faniliar with protein powder and it dosn’t sound as appetising lol.

I’m currently in a half asleep state and its 1.49pm…..my inner homer simpson wants to jump through the screen and eat those.

dude…you need to go on a recipe ban, I can’t keep up. Donut pan? check. Ingredients? check. Scrap the snickerdoodle truffles for brunch. These are being made instead. I need a healthy component somehow 😉

Confession: I’m not a chocolate doughnut fan, but girrlllll you got me wanting to eat a whole pan worth… even if it’s not even 6 in the morning.

To answer your doughnut question: I never really crave them unless I’m drunk. Funny story whenever Joshua and I were visiting the States in September we went out with my parents to a local bar. I got drunk, and made my mom buy THREE dozen doughnuts… and I didn’t even eat one once we got home Ha Ha!

ohhhemmgeee Amanda. This is like my dream healthy donut! Chocolate cake donuts were (and still are) my absolute favee! I haven’t eaten donuts in a while due to their nutritional stats, but I soo need to try these. Like STAT.

I never got the donut vs. doughnut thing! I personally like donut because it looks more fun, but I’m not sure where the two different spellings came from.

I was never a huge donut fan until I finally got a donut pan and started making them myself. The regular kind are way too sugary and I don’t like that most of them are fried, but it’s fun making them at home because you can come up with all kinds of crazy flavors and make them a much better dessert option.

Apparently the correct spelling is doughnut, with donut just being an easier nickname type thing. And I definitely agree about it being fun to make them at home — just baking things in that shape makes them automatically taste better 😉

Oh my goodness I think I love you. These look fantastic! I’ve never been able to have Timmy’s donuts because of the nuts there, so until recently the only donuts I’ve been able to have are the mini powdered ones from the grocery store. Which don’t get me wrong, are good, but not the same. Luckily when Kelly’s Bake Shoppe opened donuts gloriously returned into my life. But my wallet doesn’t always love me going there. 😛 These look like the perfect solution!!

You need to -promise- to take me to Kelly’s when I visit. I still haven’t been able to find a donut place around here that can cater to nut allergies, and while making them at home is fun, sometimes you just want to go out and enjoy a treat, ya know?

Damn you. I’m in the throes of sugar withdrawal (day three to be exact) and you go and post these. Of course, I want the powdered sugar icing. For awhile there I could say, well I don’t have a donut pan so no matter how badly I want these, I can’t make them. Then you had to go all donut holes on me, which I think I like even better than the hole in the middle kind. Alright fine, I’m pinning these; maybe they’ll be my reintroduction to sugar. Not a bad way to go huh?!

I try and play along with the National Day of… but Aaron yells at me. He says there is something every day. Well, duh! How else am I going to enjoy all the sweets For real, though, these sound amazing!

Omg girl, these look amazing!! Love ALL the pictures! I can totally relate to the sweets thing…I used to get go to Starbucks for a PSL AND a cinnamon sugar cake doughnut at LEAST 2-3 days a week in college! I have no idea how I wasn’t pinging off all the walls! Cake doughnuts are definitely my favorite…though I’m more of an unglazed girl…sorry. But I do love the protein powder glaze idea! My absolute favorite is a blueberry cake and I must must MUST have a side of coffee! Cake donuts (<-see what I did there?) are the best for dunkin'!

I just tried this yeserday with my mini-doughnut maker! They came out FANTASTIC!!!! SO so good and didn’t taste healthy at all! They were really similar to a traditional, fried cake doughnut from Dunkin Donuts. SO happy I decided to try this recipe, its gonna be one of my go-to doughnut recipes!

I’ve never tried freezing this recipe specifically, but I don’t usually have any issues with freezing my baked goods so I think they should be fine! And I’m betting they’d be AMAZINg with a chocolate topping! More chocolate is always a good thing

Looks delicious… just curious, have you tested out substitutions such as almond flour and conocnut sugar? Do you know the ratios / would they likely be the same as the regular flour and granulated sugar?
Thanks!

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I'm Amanda - health coach, cookbook author, recipe developer, makeup junkie, oatmeal addict, and the author of Running with Spoons - a blog dedicated to proving that healthy eating doesn't have to be bland or boring, one delicious snack and dessert at a time. More About Amanda →